Feeding mechanism



' Aug. 3, 1943. A Hgwms 2,325,643

y 4 MECHANISM Filed may 1v, 1940 3 sheets-smet i ATToRNE Aug. 3, 1943.

A. H.` WElS l FEEDING MECHNISM Filed may 17, 1940 s sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 3, 1943.

A. H. WElS FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 17 1940 'o' Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Albert ff. lfezls terial, as a ply of relatively material and a ply of relatively light yielding 'Patented Angra, 1943 UNiTEo s'rArEs PATENT oEFicE FEEDING MECHANISM N. Y., assigner to Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application May '17, 1940, serial No. 335313 V1r Claims. (ci. i12- 214) Albert H. Weis, Nyack,

lThis invention relates to sewing machines and more especially to an improved feeding mechanism particularly adapted to be associated with a sewing' mechanism to supplement the action of the regular feeding Imechanism thereof.

In Patent 1,736,297 granted to John P. Weis on November 19, 1929, there is shown an auxiliary or supplemental feeding mechanism ofthe same general type as the one forming the subject matter of the present invention, and adapted Vto pull material away from or relative to a sewing machine associated therewith. i i

'Ihe need for a puller feed mechanism to supplement the regular sewing machine feed in the stitching of certain types of articles and materials is well known. Thus with certain heavier materials `the puller feed mechanism serves to relieve some of the strain on the sewing machine feeding mechanism and to assist in the production of uniform lengths of stitches and of smoothly stitched seams free from puckers. In the sewing of certain finer materials, wherein the puller feedis not used, there is a tendency to slightly draw up the stitches, thus causing minute puckers as the stitch ties into the work because of the excess tension of the threads. When a puller feed is used this adverse tendency isovercome as the puller feed acts across a rather large portion of the work, exerting a uniform pull in unison with` the movement of the regular feed dog of the sewing machine to prevent such puckers. Y

It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary or supplemental feeding device of the same general character as the one shown in Patent 1,736,297, but which is more positive in its action, has a novel and advantageous driving mechanism, and which is capable of an advantageousgadjustment particularly helpful when stitching together superposed plies of unlike maheavy unyielding material. i x

It is a further object of the invention to provide a supplemental feeding mechanism .which is adapted to be readily associated with and driven by a conventional sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supplemental feeding device involving upper and lower positively driven rollers and in which l the driving mechanismfor the upper roller is entirely clear of the work plate over which the material is fed.

An important fore, resides in feature of the invention, therethe provision of a supplemental feeding device involving an upper feed roller and a lower feed roller which are both positively driven through separate clutches.

Another feature. of the invention resides in thev provision of an advantageous' construction .to guard against any tendency of the material being drawn beneath the work plate by-the lower roller.v

Another feature of the invention resides in the `provision of ajnovel driving connection be- ,tween upper and lower feed rollers, involving a clutch connected to the upper roller, which is operatively connected to a clutch connected to the lower feed roller. v

A further feature of the invention resides in 'the provision of anadvantageous driving connection between cooperating upper and lower feed rollers, whereby the rate of feeding movement of one of the rollers may be varied with .respect to that of the other roller.

Another feature of the invention resides in the operative association with a stitching mechanism and a, main feeding mechanismof cooperating f upper and lower feed rollers which are adapted to be positively driven coordinately 'with the main feeding mechanism and which are adapted to be driven at different rates of feed relative to each other and relative to the main feeding mechanism.

Other objects, features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings which illustrate a present preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a feeding device ernbodying the present invention, certain of the f parts being broken away to enable a more clear illustration.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the feeding device illustrated in Fig. 1, in operative combination with a. sewing machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and like Fig. 2 showin-g the feeding device in operative combination with a sewing machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail partial sectional view vtaken e substantially on the line 4-4 `of Fig. 2.- i i Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of `construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present prea ferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and 'not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown for the purposes of illustration a sewing machine which, as disclosed in the drawings, may be of the well-known Metropolitan type, including a lower arm 2 above which is supported an upper or overhanging arm 3 in a well understood manner a needle bar l5 carrying a needle I6 for cooperation with a looper i1, and a presser bar i8. A presser foot i9 on the presser bar |8 is adapted to cooperate with a feed dog 20 which may be part of a usual four-way main feeding mechanism operated in a conventional manner from amain drive shaft 2| in the lower arm of the sewing machine.

It is for the purpose of providing an improved supplemental feeding device 22 for use in combination with the stitching and feeding mechanism of a sewing machine, such for example as the sewing machine brieiiy described above, that the present invention is primarily directed.

As shown, this supplemental feeding device 22 comprises a main frame 23, which may be of the same general C-shape as the main frame shown in Patent 1,736,297 to correspond with the general shape of the frame of the illustrated sewing machine, including a base or lower yarm 24 with an 'opstanding support 25 at one end from which extends an upper or overhanging arm 26. Supported in bearings 21, 28 and 29 within the lower arm 24 is a shaft 30 on which and -between Vthe bearings 21 and 28 is mounted a lower roller feed means 3|.

Preferably and as shown this lower roller feed means. 3l is divided into a plurality of rollers 32, 33 and 34 fixed to the shaft 3|) andspaced slightly axially of each other to provide spaced roller feed surfaces 35, 36 and 31 adapted` to eX- tend upwardly through an opening 38 formed in a work plate 39 which may be secured to the lower arm 24 as by screws 40. Advantageously supporting strips 4| and 42 are formed on the work plate to extend across the opening 38 in the spaces between adjacent feed surfaces of the lower roller feed means and thus divide the opening into a plurality of feed surface receiving apertures. This provision of a plurality of feed surfaces 35, 36 and 31 with supporting strips 4| and 42 therecarrying a sewing head la in which is mounted between is particularly helpful in overcoming any A the work being adversely fed beneath directed toward and away tendency of the work plate as it is from the feed surfaces.

Also, it is to be noted that while the forward marginal edge portion 43 of the work plate is substantially iiush with the main surface 44 of the top of the lower arm, the portion 45 of the work' plate surrounding the feed opening 38 is offset slightly downwardly. In this manner, the work is directed to the feed means in a, particularly advantageous manner.

Supported for up and down sliding movement in .bearings 46 and 41 at the free lend of the upper arm 26 is a yoke member 50. Fixed to a shaft 5| mounted in bearings in depending arms 54 and 55 of the yoke member is a roller 56, cooperable with the lower roller feed means 3| and upper roller feed means 51. The work gripping surfaces of the upper and lower feed means may be of any suitable construction, but as illustrated the lower feed surfaces 35, 36 and 31 are knurled and the surface 58 of the upper roller is advantageously of rubber or rubberlike composition.

presser bar 48 having securedl to the lower end thereof, as by a set screw 49, a

constituting the As in the case of the feeding device shown in Patent 1,736,297, a spring strip 59 may be utilized for normally urging the rupper` roller means 51 toward the lower roller means 3l with yielding pressure, and a pivotally mounted lever arm 6|) engageable under a guide block 6| on the presser bar i8 is provided for raising the upper roller means.

Of particular importance, however, there is provided by the present invention as advantageous means by which both the upper and lower roller feed means are positively driven and by which the work advancing movement of one roller means 51 may be varied with respect to that of the other roller means 3|.

Thus, as shown, there is mounted on an extension of the upper roller shaft 5| a one-way clutch 62 which as is conventional may include a member 63 having a hub portion 64 fixed to the shaft 5| and formed with a shell 65 into which ts the driving section 66 of a member 61 which is rotatable on the shaft. Spring pressed rollers 68 located in wedge-shaped peripheral recesses 69 in the driving section are adapted to be moved into wedging contact with the shell 65 when the member 61 is rotated in one direction and to be disengaged from wedging contact with the shell 65 when the member 61 is rotated in the other direction. In this manner, oscillating' movement of the member '61 serves in a well-known manner, for example as described in Patent 1,946,514 granted to John P. Weis on February 13, 1934, to rotate the shaft 5| in a step-by-step movement. This movement is, of course, transmitted to the Upper feed roller 56.

Extending from the face plate 1D of the member 61 is a rocker arm 1| having a longitudinal slot 12 formed therein to receive a slide member 13 having a flange 14 at one side thereof adapted to engage one side of the rocker arm and having a hub portion 15 adapted to t in a bearing 16 at one end of a connecting link 11. A headed screw 18 passing through a threaded bore in the slide member 13 and having a washer and nut 19 thereon at onev side of the rocker arm 1|, serves to lock the slide member 13 and link 'l1 at a selected position on Ithe rocker arm. It will be readily appreciated that by moving the slide member longitudinally of the slot, the effective lever length of the rocker arm may be varied and in this manner the extent of rotating movement imparted to the upper feed roller 56 by movement of the link 11 may be controlled.

For rotating the lower shaft 30 and lower roller feed means 3| in a step--by-step movement concurrently with the operation of the stitching mechanism and main feeding mechanism of the sewing machine |I, there may be and preferably is, as shown, provided a clutch unit on an extension of the lower drive shaft 30. Advantageously this clutch unit is so organized that not only is there a means provided for effecting a `step-by-step advance of the lower roller feed face plate 95. On the against rotation clutch $2, having respectively spring pressed rollers 9| and 92 positioned in wedge-shaped recesses 93 and 94 and adapted to wedgingly engage the respectiveconflningy shells 85 and 88. A f ace plate 95 on the member 90 is maintained against turning with the shaft 30 by a pin 90 extending from the base 24 of the main frame into a slot 91 formed inaa. projecting arm 98 on the other hand, however, a face plate 99 on the member 89 is adapted for oscillating and rotating movement on the shaft 30. With this construction oscillation of the face plate 99 causes the wedging action of the spring pressed rollers 9| to rotate the shaft and lower roller feed means 3| carried thereby in a stepby-step movement in one direction while the wedging action of the spring pressed rollers 92 locks the shaft 30 and lower roller feed means 3| inthe opposite direction. A clutch unit which operates substantially in the manner of the clutch unit 80 is illustrated and described in Patent 2,095,647 granted to Joseph Mann on October 12, 1937. l

Of importance, attention is directed to the fact that there are two lever sections and |0| extending from the face plate 99 of the clutch unit 90. As in Patent 1,736,297, one lever section |00 has secured thereto a ball stud |02 which is adapted to be received 1n a ball socket |03 at one end of a rod, |04, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin of an adjustable eccentric |06 mounted on a main drive pulley |01 on the lower drive shaft 2| of the sewing machine. 'I'his eccentric |06, consists of a key |08 which is slidably mounted within a keyway |09 in the hub ||0 of the pulley |01 and to which is secured the pivot pin |05. Ascrew is mounted for rotary movement only within the solid wall portion ||2 of the hub ||0 and is threaded into the key |08. By looseningnut ||3 and turning screw in one or the other direction, the pivot pin is shifted to vary its' eccentricity relative to the axis of the drive shaft 2|. In this manner the extent of rocking movement of the lever section |00 and the degree of advance of the lower feed means 3| can be varied independently of the main feeding mechanism of the sewing machine.

Of importance, connected to a pivot screw ||4 secured to the other lever section |0|, is one end Vof a link ||5, the other end of which is secured to a pivot stud ||6 secured to a lever arm ||1 clamped to one end H8 of a rock shaft ||9 care ried by the upperarm. Advantageously and as shown, the rock shaft is mounted in bearings |20 and |2| fixed to the main frame and extends longitudinally of the upper arm 26 entirely clear of and spaced upwardly from the lower arm 24 and work plate 39. At the other end |22 of the rock shaft ||9 there is clamped another lever arm |23, similar to the lever arm ||1, and to which, as by a pivot stud |24, is connected the link 11 which is adiustably connected to the rocker` arm 1| of the driving clutch for the upper roller 56.

lWith the construction above described it will be readily apparent .that by adjusting the eccentric |06 on the drive shaft 2| of the sewing machine, the rate of feed of the upper and lower roller feed means may be varied relative to that of the main feeding mechanism of the sewing machine; by shifting the link 11 relative to the rocker arm 1| the rate of feed of they upper roller feed means 51 may be varied with respect to that of the lower roller feed means 3| 1. In a deviceof the character described, the combination of a rst roller feeding means; a

second roller feeding means; means for supporting said first and second roller feeding means in vertically opposed relation for cooperative feeding movement; means for operating said second feeding means; and means for connecting said operating means with said first roller feeding means for conjoint operation with said' second roller -feedingrmeans said connecting means including as a part thereof relatively movable elements relatively movable into divers positions of adjustment relative` to each other for varying the relative rate of feed of said first and second roller feeding means.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a lower roller feed means; an upper roller feed means; means for supporting said upper and lower roller feed means for cooperative feeding movementa firstl clutch connected to said upper roller feed means; a second clutch connected to said lower roller feed means; a first lever means `on said second clutch for rotating the lower roller feed means; a second lever means on said second clutch, movable by and with said first lever means; and means connecting said second lever means and Said first clutch for conjoint rotation of said upper and lower roller feed means.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a lower roller feed means; an upper roller feed means; means Vfor supporting said upper and lower roller feed means for cooperative feeding movement; a first one-way clutch connected to said upper roller feed means; a second clutch connected to said lower roller feedl means; a first lever means on said second clutch for rotating the lower roller feed means; a second lever means on said second clutch', movable by and with said first lever means; a rocker arm on said first clutch; a link connected to and movable 1ongitudinally of said rocker arm for varying the `effective length ofthe latter; and means connectingsaid link to said second lever means for conjoint, operation of said upper and lower roller feed means.

4. A device of the character described, com! prising a main frame having a base; a lower roller feed means supported relative to said base and other longitudinally of said axis of rotation; a`

work plate on saidbase, having a first portion forwardly of said axis of rotation and having a second portion downwardly offset relative to said first portion and overlying Asaid axis of rotation, said second portion being formed with a plurality of apertures with work supporting means therebetween, said apertures being respectively aligned with said rollers and said rollers extending upwardly through said apertures; upper roller feed means supportedoversaid work plate, for coand 75 operation with said lower roller feed means; and

' feeding movement;

fecting coordinate relative to each other means Ifor positivelyrotating at least one of said roller feed means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of lower roller feed means; means for supporting said lower and upper roller feed means for cooperative operating means for positively driving both of said roller feed means and operatively connected to each .of the same, said operating means including a link and lever ad- J'ustably connected to each other and operatively interposed between said upper and lower feed means for varying the rate of feed of said upper and lower feed means relative to each other.

6. In combination with a sewing machine having a stitching mechanism and a main feeding mechanism, a lower roller feed means; an upper roller feed means; means for supporting said upper and lower roller feed means for cooperative feeding movement; operating means operatively connected to said main feeding mechanism and to each of said upper and lower rollers, for efoperation of said main feeding mechanism and said upper and lower roller feed means, said operating means including means as a part thereof for varying the rate of feed of said upper and lower roller feed means and relative to said main feeding mechanism.

7. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a main frame having an upper arm and a lower arm; a work support on the lower arm; an upper feed roller supported 'by said upper arm; a lower feed roller supported by said lower arm, cooperable with said lLDDEBI feed roller; and means for positively driving each of said rollers and operatively connected to each of the same, said means including a link and lever adjustably connected to each other and operatively interposed between said upper and lower rollers for varying the rate of feed of said upper and lower rollers relative to each other.

8. An auxiliary feeding device for association with a sewing machine, comprising lower roller feed means; upper roller feed means; means for supporting said upper and lower feed means for cooperative feeding movement; a first one-way clutch for said lower feed means; a second oneway clutch for said upper feed means; means on said rst clutch for effecting an operating connection with an associated sewing machine; lever means on said first clutch, movable by and conjointly with said last-named means; and means for operatively connecting said lever means and said second clutch, said connecting means including an adjustable means on said second clutch for varyingthe advancing movement of the upper roller feeding means relative to the 'lower roller feeding means.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination' of a main frame having an upper arm and a lower arm; a work support on the lower arm; an upper feed roller supported by said upper arm; `a lower feed roller supported by said lower arm, cooperable with said upper feed roller; a rock shaft extending longitudinally of and supported by said upper arm entirely *clear of and spaced above said work support; a one-way clutch connected to the upper feed roller; a rocker arm on said clutch; means for positively rotating said lower roller with a step-by-step movement; means including a lever for connecting said last-named'means to said rock shaft; and means for connecting said rock shaft to said roller feed means; upper 'l rocker arm for conjoint operation of said upper and lower rollers.

\ 10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main frame having'an upper arm and a lower arm; a work support on the lower arm; an upper feed roller supported by said upper arm; lower arm, cooperable with said upper feed roller; a rock shaft extending longitudinally of and supported by said upper arm entirely clear of and spaced above said work support; a one way clutch connected to the upper feed roller; a rocker arm on said clutch; .means for positively rotating said lower roller with a step-by-step movement; means including a lever for connecting said last-named means to said rock shaft; and means for connecting said rock shaft to said rocker arm, including means moveable longitudinally of said rocker arm to vary the step-by-step movement oi' the upper roller relative to that of the lower roller.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a main frame having an upper arm and a lower arm; a lower roller feed means supported by said lower arm; a cooperating upper roller lower roller feed means; a second one-way clutch means separate from said first one-way clutch means, for operating said upper roller feed means supported by said lower arm, and having a portion extending upwardly relative to said work support for cooperation with said first feeding means; a first drive shaft for said first means; a second oneway clutch operatively confeeding means; lever means er roller feeding 14. A device of the character described, comprisingamainframehavinganupperarmand alowerarln; aworkpiateonsaidlowerarm;a lowerrollerfeedmeansbysaidlower arm; a cooperating upper roller feed means; meanssupportingsaldumermllerfeedmeans onsaidupperarmforttowardand awayfmmsaidlowermllerfeedmeans;aflrst clutchmeansforoperatlnzsaidlowerrollerfecd means;aclutchmeansforopentingnid upperrollerfcedmeansarockshaft of and by said upper ammtirelyclearofandspacedupwardlyfrom saldworkplateaudsaidlomerarm;meansfor rockingtosaidrockshaft fromsaidflrstchitchmeansandmeansfor transmitting rockingmovanmtfrolnsaidmck shafttosaidsecondclutchmeans.

15.Adeviceofthecharacterdcrihed,com u prisingakiwerrollerfeedmeansanupperroller feed means; means for said upper andlowerrollerfeedmeansforcoopentivefeedingmovenent: aiintelutehtosaid upperrolierfeedmeansasecondclutchconnectedtosaidlowerrollerfeedmeans;airstle vermeansononeofmidclutchsformtatlng themllerfeedmeanstowhichsaidoneofsaid clutches is; asecondlevermeanson `aaidilieofsaidclutches,nmvalilcllyandvlith saidrstkvermeanxandmeansnid secmdievermeansonsaidoneofsaidclutehes andfheotherofslidclutdiforcdntrotationofsaidupperandlowerrollerieedmeans.

16. A device of the character described, comprlslng a lower roller feed means; an upper roller feed means; means for supporting said upper and lower roller feed means for cooperative feeding movement; a first clutch connected to said upper roilerfeedmeans; asecondciutchconnectedto said lower roller feed means; actuating means on one of said clutches for rotating the roller feed means to which said one of said clutches is connected; lever means on said one of said clutches, movable by and with said actuating means; and meansconnectingsaidlevermeansonsaidone of said clutches and the other of said clutches for conjoint operation of said upper and lower roller feed means.

i'l. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lower feed roller; an upper feed roller; means for supporting said upper and lower feed rollers for cooperative feeding movement; means for podtively rotating one of said feed rollers with a step-hy-#step movement; a onewayclutchmeansconnectedtotheotherofsaid feed rollers; and means for operatively connecting said last two-named means for conjoint operation, said connecting means including an adjustable means for varying the advancing movement of one of said feed rollers relative to the other of said feed rollers.

AIBERT H. WEIS. 

